Mechanically actuated game for opposing players



MECHANIGALLY ACTUATED GAME FOR OPPOSING PLAYERS Filed Feb. 28, 1964 Jan.3, 1967 GLASS ET AL 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 lo'e Tia

Jan. 3, 1967 M. 1. GLASS ET AL 3,295,848

MECHANICALLY ACTUATED GAME FOR OPPOSING PLAYERS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FiledFeb. 28, 1964 United States Patent Office 3,295,848 Patented Jan. 3,1967 3,295,848 MECHANICALLY ACTUATED GAME FOR OPPOSING PLAYERS Marvin I.Glass and Gordon A. Barlow, Chicago, Leonid Kripak, Villa Park, andHenry Stan, Chicago, 111., as-

signors to Marvin Glass & Associates, Chicago, Ill.,

a partnership Filed Feb. 28, 1964, Ser. No. 348,151 3 Claims. (Cl. 2731)This invention relates generally to a toy, and is more particularlydirected to a mechanically actuated toy which provides a game to beplayed between opposing players.

Mechanical toys have become very popular in recent years, particularlythose toys which afford participation by the child in the action of thetoy. The present invention is particularly directed to a toy which notonly provides for participation by the child, but which provides a gamewhich can be played between two players in a manner affording veryactive competition between the players and considerable excitementduring the course of the game, with each player trying to outwit theother.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a novelmechanically operated toy which can also be used as a game. A furtherobject of the invention is to provide a power operated toy having afigure thereon movable through a predetermined path, wherein themovement of the figure is controlled jointly by a pair of control means.More particularly, it is an object of this invention to provide amechanically actuated toy wherein a movable and articulated figure ismovable along a predetermined path between opposing goals, each goal isprovided with control means for determining the direction of movement ofthe figure, and wherein the figure, upon reaching one of the goals,makes a gesture which indicates that one of the players has won thegame.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing description of the selected embodiment illustrated in thedrawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a toy embodying the invention anddepicted as a movable figure in a scientific laboratory;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view, similar to FIGURE 1, with the figure ina different position;

FIGURE 3 is a bottom plan view of the selected embodiment, particularlyillustrating the operating mechamsm;

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 44 in FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view taken along the line 55 in FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is a schematic wiring diagram of the electrical circuit used inthe selected embodiment;

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged view' taken along the line 77 in FIGURE 3, withparts broken away and in section;

FIGURE 8 is a view taken along the line 88 in IGURE 5, with parts brokenaway and in section; and

FIGURE 9 is an enlarged. sectional view taken along the line 99 inFIGURE 3.

Generally, the present invention provides a mechanically actuated toywhich is particularly useful as a game between two opposing players. Asseen particularly in FIGURES 1 and 2, the toy has the appearance of ascientific laboratory wherein a masked monster 10 is movable fromadjacent one end of the supporting platform 12 to the other end. Themonster is operably connected with a drive means 14 (FIGURE 4) formovement along a path defined by a slot 16 extending a substantialportion of the length of the platform. The drive mechanism is batterypowered and a pair of drive circuit control knobs 18 and 20 are providedat opposite ends of the platform and are disposed behind abutments 22which conceal the direction of rotation of the knobs by opposingplayers. At an intermediate portion of the platform there is provided atimer mechanism 24 which is suitably connected with'the drive mechanism16 so as to provide for selection of a predetermined length of time ofoperation of the drive mechanism. Preferably each player in turn setsthe timer mechanism after both players have moved their control knobs 18and 20 to one of two available positions. The setting of the timermechanism and the positioning of the control knobs determines thedirection of travel of the figure 10 and the extent of such travel. Thegame is started with the figure in the center of the platform and, asthe figure approaches one of the goals 22, he raises his arms 26 and hismask 28 falls off to expose a skull 30. The player defending the goalreached by the figure is the loser of the game. In addition to theuncertainty of the direction and extent of movement of the maskedfigure, further excitement is provided through means of a soundmakerwhich indicates a climatic moment in the game as the figure approachesone of the goals.

Referring also to FIGURES 3 and 4, it will be noted that the platformv12 comprises an elongated, box-like member 32, preferably of plastic,which has suificient depth to accommodate the drive mechanism 14,soundmakers 34 and 36 and timer mechanism 24. Elements depictingcomponents of a scientific laboratory 38 are suitably secured to theplatform 12 along one edge thereof to provide a background for themonster figure. These elements are also preferably of plastic and may besuitably colored or left clear where they are to resemble glasscomponents. In the latter respect, a lighting effect may be provided inany known manner to provide for either constant or intermittent lightingthrough the clear plastic elements by means of a suitable source oflight (not shown) operated from the batteries.

As seen particularly in FIGURES 4,5 and 8, the monster figure 10 issupported on a movable carriage 40 which underlies the platform 12. Moreparticularly, this carriage is generally rectangular with an open topand is supported and guided for movement along the slot 16 by means of astrap member 42 which is fixed to opposite ends of the carriage byscrews 44 or the like and which strap has an intermediate portion 46(FIGURE 5) overlying the slot and of greater Width that the slot. Thefeet of the monster are movably supported on this intermediate portion46 and the latter portion also has a central opening therethrough forrotatably receiving a sleevelike element 48. This sleeve-like element 48has fixed thereto at its lower end a segmented gear 50 in position forengagement with a drive worm 52. Extending upwardly through the bottomof the carriage 40 and the sleeve 48 is an elongated, verticallyextending rod 54 which is bent at right angles adjacent the leg of thefigure and then extends upwardly through the body to a crank 56 disposedtransversely of the shoulders of the figure. A nut 58 or the like isprovided at the upper end of the sleeve-like element 48 and includes aslot or opening to permit lateral passage of the bent portion of the rod54. This nut 58 is fixed to the legs of the figure so that as the nut isrotated, in a manner to be described, the figure 10 also rotates.

The opposite ends of the transverse crank 56 in the upper portion of thefigure are provided with knurled sections 60 or the like providing meansfor attachment of the movable arms. of the figure for movement with thecrank 56. The central portion of the crank has projecting upwardlytherefrom a shorter rod 62 which is disposed for movement through thehead of the figure (FIGURE 4). The face of the figure is normallyconcealed by the mask 28 which is removably supported on the head by ahook-like portion 64 which rests in an opening 66 in the top ofthe'head. The shorter rod 62 is positioned for engagement with thishook-like portion 64 to thereby effect removal of the mask from theface.

The segmented gear 50 engaging the drive worm 52 includes a projectingarm portion 66 (FIGURE 8) which is engageable with stops 68 and 70provided lengthwise of the carriage and adjacent the drive worm. Thecarriage 40 has also fixed to the bottom portion thereof a pair ofprojecting arms 72 with aligned openings therein for receiving a pin 74or the like pivotally supporting an angularly bent lever 76 having oneend supporting the lower portion of the vertically extending rod 54. Theother end of this lever is positioned for engagement with inclined camsurfaces 78 provided on the underside of the platform. A more detaileddescription of the operation of the lever 76 and of the segmented gear50 in connection with the travel of the figure 10 will be foundhereinafter.

The mechanism for effecting travel of the figure 10, including rotationthereof so as to face in the direction of the goal it is approaching, isseen particularly in FIG URES 3 and 4. More specifically, the drivemechanism 14 includes an electrically-operated, reversible motor 80which is supported on a suitable housing or platform 82 fixed to theunderside of the toy at one end thereof. The motor receives its powerfrom a pair of flashlight batteries 84 also carried on the underside ofthe main platform. The drive shaft of the motor has connected thereto adriving pinion 86 which provides for rotation of a main driven gear 88through a pair of speed reduction gears 89 and 91. The main drive gear88 is coaxially disposed on a shaft which extends substantially thelength of the platform. A substantial portion of the drive shaft is inthe form of the worm gear 52 having driving engagement with thesegmented gear 50 on the carriage supporting the monster, and preferablyat least the worm portion of the drive shaft is of molded plastic.

Controlling the operation of the motor 80 is the pair of rotatableswitch knobs 18 and 20 disposed adjacent each of the opposite goals forthe figure. Each of these knobs is in the form of a two-way switch whichis operable, as indicated in FIGURE 6, to control the direction ofrotation of the reversible motor. In this connection, it is to be notedthat both two-way switches are always operable in the circuit and thedirection of rotation of the motor is dependent upon the setting of bothcontrol knobs.

As seen in FIGURES and 8, the long worm drive 52 is in meshingengagementwith the segmented gear 50 rotatably mounted on the verticallyextending rod 54 which extends through the supporting carriage andupwardly into the figure. Thus, the rotation of the worm .drive iseffective through its engagement with the segmented gear 50 to move thecarriage 40 longitudinally of the platform. The initial movement of theworm drive may also be accompanied by rotational movement of the gear 50to the extent permitted by the arm 66, so as to close rotate the figurethrough approximately 180 to face in the direction of its travel. If thefigure is continuing in the same direction, the arm 66 on the segmentedgear 50 will be disposed against one of the stops 68-70 so that there isno accompanying rotation of the figure. However, if the direction ofrotation of the worm 52 has been reversed, the initial rotation thereofwill provide an accompanying movement of the gear 50 and its arm 66 inthe direction of the opposite stop means 68 or 70, which movement willalso produce approximately 180 movement of the figure. Thus the figureis always faced in the direction of its movement.

Extending laterally of the carriage 40 is the pivoted lever 76 which issupported on the twoextending brackets 72 on the underside of thecarriage. Adjacent opposite ends of the platform are the inclined earns78 which are disposed for engagement with the pivoted lever 76 on thecarriage. As the carriage approaches the end of the platform, the lever76 is engaged by the associated cam 78 and thereby pivoted about itssupporting shaft 74. This pivoting movement of the lever is accomplishedby an elevation of the vertical rod 54 to raise the arms 26 of thefigure. Preferably near the end of the upward movement of the arms, therod 62 in the head of the figure strikes against the mask portion 64 andknocks the mask off the face to expose a skull or the like. Finally, asthe pivoted lever 76 moves beyond the cam 78, the arms 26 again drop tothe side of the figure.

There is also provided a sound mechanism which provides for a suitablyeerie sound in accompaniment to the raising and lowering of the arms ofthe figure. More particularly, the sound mechanisms 34-36, one at eachend of the platform, each include a sounding chamber 91) or diaphragm inthe nature of a box having a covering of fish paper or the like and aleaf spring or reed 92 which is fixed to one edge of the box and has anintermediate portion 92a bent to strike thecenter portion of thediaphragm. As the carriage 4i) approaches the end of its travel, and thecam lever 76 operates the arms in the manner just described, thecarriage also moves a slidable gear 94 along a rectangular section ofthe drive shaft in opposition to a coil spring 96 disposed between theslidable gear and an end wall supporting the shaft. As the slidable gear94 is moved rearwardly toward the adjacent end wall, the teeth'surrounding the periphery of the gear engage an end of the leaf spring 2to cause the latter to vibrate against the diaphragm 91). Theaccompanying noise is sustained through the finishing motions of thefigure 1t) and until the carriage 40 has moved the slidable gear 94 pastthe leaf spring 92. At this point, the noise and the movement of thefigure ceases and as the timer shaft 102 is rotated to its off positionthe groove 126 is freed from the plate 128 and moved upwardly by thespring 106. This releases switch 106 to move out of contact withterminal 110 and thereby shutoff motor 80.

Although the game provided by this toy may be such that the movement ofthe figure is always under the control of the players, it is preferredthat additional suspense be provided through the use of a timermechanism in the circuit. Such a timer mechanism is provided in theselected embodiment and is illustrated at 24 in a position adjacent thecenter edge of the platform. FIGURES 3 and 7 illustrate the details ofthe timer mechanism. As noted in these figures, the timer mechanismincludes a rotatable knob or dial having a center shaft 192 extendingdownwardly through a small housing 104, which housing also includes aconventional spring leaf type switch 186 disposed between two terminals168 and fixed to the housing and electrically connected with the batterypowered motor 80. The knob 1811 is biased into a raised position bymeans of the leaf spring switch 166 bearing against the shaft 102 andthe lower edge of the knob includes a series of circumferentialserrations or inclined cam surfaces 114. Engaging one of the inclinedcam surfaces 114 is the free end 116a of a lever 116 which is pivoted atan intermediate portion by means of a pin 118 (FIGURE 3) and bracket 120fixed to the underside of the main platform. The opposite end 1316b ofthe lever 116 includes an angularly bent section disposed for engagementwith an eccentrically mounted cam disc 122 (FIGURE 9) on the main driveshaft. The lever 116 is biased into engagement with the serrations 114on the timer knob by means of a coil spring 124. As the eccentric camdisc 122 rotates with the drive shaft, it causes the lever 116 to pivotabout its axis 118 and such pivotal movement is accompanied by arotation of the timer knob 100. When the knob 101) is depressed so as toclose the switch 106 and complete the electric motor circuit, it is heldagainst upward movement by rotation of the knob relative to its offposition. The depressing and rotation of the timer knob 100 causes anannular groove portion 126 in the lower, reduced section 102a of theshaft 102 to become engaged with a complementary opening in a metalplate 128 to thereby lock the shaft 102 against vertical movement. Asthe timer knob 100 is rotated by the lever 116 into its off position,the configuration of the lower end of the shaft 102 is such that itcooperates with the opening in the metal plate 128 to free the shaft andpermit upward movement under the biasing action of the leaf spring 106.This permits the leaf spring switch 106 to raise and break contact withthe terminal 110, thereby shutting off the motor 80.

Although shown and described with respect to a particular embodiment, itwill be apparent that various modifications might be made withoutdeparting from the principles of this invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A game for opposing players comprising, a platform having oppositegoals, an articulated figure of a man having a head and movable arms,means mounting said figure on said platform for rotation and formovement between said goals, a mask mounted on said-head for movementfrom a normal position concealing said head to a position exposing saidhead, drive means connected with said mounting means, control meansconnected with said drive means and operable by the opposing players tomove said figure in either of opposite directions between said goals andto turn said figure to face in its direction of movement, said controlmeans being arranged so that a player cannot determine in advance theeffect of any particular setting of the control on the drive means, andmeans responsive to said figure arriving at a position adjacent eitherof said goals for effecting a raising movement of said arms and aremoval of said mask from said normal position so as to expose the faceof the figure, whereby each player can operate the control means in anattempt to move the figure to the goal associated with the other playerand the player associated with the goal opposite the goal at which thefigure raises its arms and exposes its face is the winner.

2. A game for opposing players comprising, a platform having oppositegoals, an articulated figure of a man having a head which is at least inpart concealed by a relatively movable mask, and said figure includingarms movable between a normally lowered position and a raised position,means mounting said figure on said platform for rotation and formovement between said goals, drive means connected with said mountingmeans and selectively operable to move said figure in either of oppositedirections between said goals, means responsive to changing thedirection of movement of said figure between said goals for turning saidfigure to face in its direction of movement, cooperating control means,one associated with each of said goals, which are connected with eachother and with said drive means so that the positioning of both of saidcontrol means determines the direction in which said drive means willmove said figure, manually adjustable timer means for rendering saiddrive means operative a selectively variable period of time during whichsaid figure moves on said platform, and means responsive to said figurearriving at either of said goals for effecting movement of said armsfrom said lowered position to said raised position and back to saidlowered position and 5 as said arm returns to said lowered position foreffecting movement of said mask to expose said head, whereby the playersset their respective control means and take turns-setting the timermeans to attempt to move the figure to the goal associated with theother player and the player associated with the goal opposite the goalat which the figure raises and lowers its arms and exposes its head isthe winner.

3. A game for opposing players, comprising, a platform having oppositegoals, an articulated figure of a man having a skeleton head concealedby a helmet, and arms movable between a normally lowered position and araised position, means mounting said figure on said platform formovement between said goals, a mask mounted on said helmet for movementbetween a normal position concealing said head and a second positionexposing said head, reversible drive means selectively operable formoving said figure in either of opposite directions between said goals,means responsive to a change in the direction of movement of said drivemeans to turn said figure to face in its direction of movement,cooperating control means for said drive means, one associated with eachof said goals and effectively concealed from the other of said goals,each control means being selectively operable by an associated playerand cooperating with the other control means for operating said drivemeans to move said figure in either one of said opposite directions,articulating means responsive to said figure arriving at either of saidgoals for effecting movement of said arms from said lowered position tosaid raised position and back to said lowered position and, as said armreturns to said lowered position, for effecting movement of said maskfrom said normal position to said second position to expose said head,and sound mechanism operative in response to movement of said figureadjacent either of said goals, whereby the players set their respectivecontrol means to attempt to move the figure to the goal associated withthe other player whereupon the figure raises and lowers its arms andexposes its head and said sound mechanism is operated.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS RICHARD C.PINKHAM, Primary Examiner.

LOUIS J. BOVASSO, Examiner.

1. A GAME FOR OPPOSING PLAYERS COMPRISING, A PLATFORM HAVING OPPOSITEGOALS, AN ARTICULATED FIGURE OF A MAN HAVING A HEAD AND MOVABLE ARMS,MEANS MOUNTING SAID FIGURE ON SAID PLATFORM FOR ROTATION AND FORMOVEMENT BETWEEN SAID GOALS, A MASK MOUNTED ON SAID HEAD FOR MOVEMENTFROM A NORMAL POSITION CONCEALING SAID HEAD TO A POSITION EXPOSING SAIDHEAD, DRIVE MEANS CONNECTED WITH SAID MOUNTING MEANS,CONTROL MEANSCONNECTED WITH SAID DRIVE MEANS AND OPERABLE BY THE OPPOSING PLAYERS TOMOVE SAID FIGURE IN EITHER OF OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS BETWEEN SAID GOALS ANDTO TURN SAID FIGURE TO FACE IN ITS DIRECTION OF MOVEMENT, SAID CONTROLMEANS BEING ARRANGED SO THAT A PLAYER CANNOT DETERMINE IN ADVANCE THEEFFECT OF ANY PARTICULAR SETTING OF THE CONTROL ON THE DRIVE MEANS, ANDMEANS RESPONSIVE TO SAID FIGURE ARRIVING AT A POSITION ADJACENT EITHEROF SAID GOALS FOR EFFECTING A RAISING MOVEMENT OF SAID ARMS AND AREMOVAL OF SAID MASK FROM SAID NORMAL POSITION SO AS TO EXPOSE THE FACEOF THE FIGURE, WHEREBY EACH PLAYER CAN OPERATE THE CONTROL MEANS IN ANATTEMPT TO MOVE THE FIGURE TO THE GOAL ASSOCIATED WITH THE OTHER PLAYERAND THE PLAYER ASSOCIATED WITH THE GOAL OPPOSITE THE GOAL AT WHICH THEFIGURE RAISES ITS ARMS AND EXPOSES ITS FACE IS THE WINNER.